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Local Politicians Respond To State Of The Union

Local politicians released statements on Tuesday night in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman issued the following statement Tuesday:

"Facing high unemployment rates, rising gasoline costs and ever increasing regulatory burdens, Arkansans and all Americans, need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's time the president stop finger-pointing and reach-out to work together on common sense solutions to the problems and the challenges facing our country."

"Time and time again, the president's rhetoric hasn't matched his actions. His call for reducing our energy dependence comes on the heels of his rejection for a permit to build a pipeline that would decrease our need to rely on hostile regimes for fuel sources while simultaneously increasing jobs."

"President Obama spoke of an 'all-of-the-above' strategy on energy and noted it was American ingenuity, investment and hard work that built major infrastructure projects like the Hoover Dam and the interstate system. I'd remind the president that we could be building the Keystone Pipeline which would put 20,000 Americans to work and lower gas prices for us all. There is no reason for him to have denied this major infrastructure project from getting off the ground."

"We certainly need to reform the tax code, close loopholes and ensure that the middle class are not bearing the brunt of the tax burden. However, President Obama's vision of 'fairness' is based on the idea that raising taxes on the American people and our small business owners can solve our economic problems. Washington doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Americans are calling on Washington to do as they do, which is to devise a budget and live within our means, something that the Senate Majority has refused to do for the last 1,000 days."

"I am willing to work with President Obama to jumpstart job growth in the private sector, pave the way for energy independence so we aren't forced to rely on radical regimes for fuel sources and make it easier for small business to provide employment opportunities by alleviating hurdles to job creation. The president must be part of the solution and he needs to start by leading by example."

Sen. Mark Pryor released the following statement Tuesday:

"The state of our union is better this year. We are creating manufacturing jobs for the first time since the late 1990s, our auto industry is making a comeback with GM at the helm, consumer confidence is up and domestic oil production is higher than it's been in eight years. And for the first time in nine years, Americans are no longer fighting in Iraq.

"Yet, we have too many Arkansans receiving an unemployment check when they'd rather be earning a paycheck. We need the president, Republicans and Democrats to create an environment that leads to new economic opportunities in America. The president's commitment to enable more businesses to hire, more entrepreneurs to innovate and more students to graduate prepared for a 21st Century job should be shared by both parties in Congress. I hope to work with him and my colleagues to achieve these goals in 2012.

"While I share the president's interest in growing our energy capacity, we must also embrace the potential that already exists. We cannot afford to forgo traditional forms of energy. I disagree with his decision to postpone the Keystone pipeline. I believe in this day and age, this project can be done in a responsible way that protects the environment.

"Despite predictions otherwise, I am hopeful Congress and the White House can deliver results this year. My six-point solution to job creation offers common-sense initiatives to strengthen our country's future. We can find common ground and put our nation on a stronger path for tomorrow."

Rep. Steve Womack released a statement in response to the president's address saying, "The president continues to run away from his dismal record of the first three years and instead, using his blocking fullback -- the Senate -- to shield him from the reality that unemployment remains high, spending is out of control, and our country is sinking from unsustainable deficits and a growing mountain of debt. His strategy is obvious -- to run against Congress, rather than accept responsibility for his failed policies."

Womack said, "House Republicans have been providing solutions throughout this entire Congress, only to see them die in the abyss known as the 'Harry Reid Senate.' It's been one thousand days since the Senate passed a budget -- one of the most fundamental of Congressional duties -- and our country is in fiscal distress as a result. We can do better."

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